R-23-09RESOLUTION NO. R-23-09
RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A HOMELESSNESS
TASKFORCE
WHEREAS, the City of Fairfax is a community that strives to support all residents,
regardless of race, color, national origin, disability or economic standing.
WHEREAS, the City of Fairfax Mayor and City Council acknowledge the challenges for
City residents who are unhoused or at risk for homelessness.
WHEREAS, the City of Fairfax Mayor and City Council understand that currently economic
conditions brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic along with higher than average area
housing costs and low affordable housing inventory has further impacted individuals and
families already struggling to meet the costs of basic needs.
WHEREAS, the City of Fairfax Mayor and City Council have committed to establishing a
homelessness taskforce to facilitate a better local understanding of and initiate a community
dialogue focused on mitigating the impacts of homelessness on both the individual residents
experiencing homelessness and the greater residential and business communities.
WHEREAS, Mayor Read and Councilmembers Lim and Doyle Feingold have committed to
develop and provide leadership to the homelessness taskforce.
NOW, THEREFOREE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Fairfax
hereby supports the development of 8 to 12 members on the City of Fairfax homelessness
taskforce with the purpose stated herein, with a membership to include:
1. Mayor and Two Councilmembers
2. Three representatives from the City's business community
3. Three City residents
4. Three representatives from organizations connected to the Fairfax Partnership to
Prevent and End Homelessness service continuum.
Adopted: February 14, 2023
Mayor
ATTEST:
City Clerk
The vote on the motion to approve was recorded as follows:
VOTE:
Councilmember Bates
Aye
Councilmember Doyle Feingold
Aye
Councilmember Greenfield
Absent
Councilmember Lim
Aye
Councilmember Ross
Aye
Councilmember Stehle
Aye
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FAI FAX CITY
CITY OF FAIRFAX
HOMELESSNESS TASK FORCE CHARTER
1. PURPOSE
This Charter identifies the purpose, composition, roles, responsibilities, and committee
structure of the City of Fairfax Homelessness Task Force (COFHTF).
The City of Fairfax Homelessness Task Force is a collaborative and inclusive community forum
responsible for increasing the understanding of, identifying issues related to and developing
innovative strategies for addressing homelessness in the City of Fairfax.
2 MISSION
The mission of the City of Fairfax Homelessness Task Force is to address the impacts of
homelessness within the City of Fairfax both for individuals experiencing homelessness and
the greater community with the end goal of the City of Fairfax being a community that
supports all people.
The mission will be accomplished through facilitated community dialogue and interface with
existing systems serving individuals at risk or experiencing homelessness.
3. GOALS
The City of Fairfax Homeless Task Force will serve as the Local Coalition and the coordinating
body for efforts to end homelessness. The Homeless Task Force will coordinate and oversee
implementation of the following strategies and activities to address homelessness in the City
of Fairfax:
• Seek to better understand the scope and cause of homelessness in City of Fairfax
• Identify and recommend short- and long-term action plans that our community can
undertake to address the issues.
• Create opportunities for dialogue and input from City of Fairfax business owners to
identify current pain points and address a path forward and viable solutions.
• Establish a forum to involve, coordinate, educate and share knowledge between local
stakeholders in City of Fairfax regarding local efforts to address homelessness.
• Develop recommendations on how the City of Fairfax can engage on current issues
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connected to homelessness which may include: budget, legislative matters, and the
current service system in place with our partners.
• Coordinate with local and regional homelessness partners to better understand current
issues, needs of the population, and potential system barriers.
4. ORGANIZATION
A Membership: The City of Fairfax Homelessness Task Force will be an eight -to -twelve -
member task force comprised of local representatives from City of Fairfax businesses, City
of Fairfax residents and human services organizations connected to the Partnership to
Prevent and End Homelessness service continuum. Task force members will be chosen
through an application/interview process to ensure membership reflects diverse
stakeholder perspectives. Applications will be accepted from mid -February until March
15, 2023.
Task force membership will include three City of Fairfax residents, three City of Fairfax
business representatives (which includes at least one representative from Fairfax Circle
businesses) along with a representative from the Lamb Center, FACETS and the Fairfax
County Community Services Board. Although not official task force members, the
following entities will serve as key partners: City Police Department, City Fire
Department (community paramedic), Office to Prevent and End Homelessness, City of
Fairfax Regional Library, Central Fairfax Chamber of Commerce, City Parks Department,
and City Economic Development.
B, Leadership — Councilwoman So Lim, Mayor Catherine Read and Councilwoman Kate
Feingold will provide leadership for the City of Fairfax Homelessness Taskforce.
Chairperson will host and facilitate meetings and be spokesperson for the city's
Homelessness Task Force. Vice Chairperson will preside over meetings if the Chairperson
is not available.
The Director of Human Services will serve as an advisor and staff support for this task
force. The task force will also be supported by various City Department personnel.
C Meetings —The City of Fairfax Homelessness Task Force will meet quarterly with an option
to meet more frequently when necessary. Meetings will be open to the public.
The Mayor and City Council Members will host monthly community listening sessions at
varied locations within the City of Fairfax. Dates and duration of these listening sessions
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will be determined by the taskforce. During March, those community listening sessions
will occur weekly. A detailed community listening session schedule will be made available
to the community. City residents can also send comments and feedback for the
Homelessness Taskforce via the Engage Fairfax platform.
The target date for the initial Homelessness Task Force Meeting is mid -April 2023.
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